Siheyuan: I will never tolerate gambling and drugs!

In the noodle shop

Xu Lin and Qin Huairu, who was sitting next to him, were both slurping up noodles. Xu Lin had almost finished his second bowl, while Qin Huairu had only intended to eat one bowl.

But she couldn't resist the fact that she hadn't eaten refined grains in a long time, and the noodles tasted so good, so she agreed to let Xu Lin give her a second bowl.

"Huai Ru, how old are you?" Xu Lin asked casually while eating his noodles. In his memory, Qin Huai Ru should be around 18 years old at this time, but he wasn't sure, so he asked.

Upon hearing Xu Lin's question, Qin Huairu immediately stopped eating her noodles and answered, "I just turned 18 this month, I'm 19 now. How old are you, Xu Lin?"

After Qin Huairu revealed her age, she asked him her own. Xu Lin readily replied, "I'm the same age as you, but four months older. You should call me 'brother'."

"Okay, Brother Xu, I'll call you Brother Xu from now on," Qin Huairu immediately changed her address and started calling him "Brother."

Seeing how sensible Qin Huairu was, Xu Lin also started to have wicked thoughts, and began to secretly observe the nineteen-year-old Qin Huairu beside him.

Her faded, coarse cloth clothes somehow exuded an indescribable charm. Whether it was the tight-fitting cut of the pale white shirt or Qin Huairu's impressively large figure, her ample bosom was accentuated, making her curves even more striking. Every time Xu Lin looked at Qin Huairu, his aim would instinctively go into auto-aiming mode.

Her shoulders were rounded and delicate, but her back was straight, exuding a unique resilience unique to young women. Gray cloth trousers hugged her two shapely and slender legs, with the cuffs rolled up to her ankles, revealing a section of delicate and fair calves. She wore a pair of slightly worn square-toed cloth shoes, simple yet radiating a healthy glow.

A glossy braid hung down her back, the red ribbon at the end swaying gently as she spoke, making her exposed neck appear slender and white, like a freshly peeled bamboo shoot.

Xu Lin made a decision that followed the wishes of his ancestors!

Huai Ru, he accepted it! I, Xu Lin, said it, not even the Heavenly King himself could change it!

"By the way, are you visiting relatives in Beijing this time?" Xu Lin continued to try and start a conversation with Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu blushed slightly upon hearing Xu Lin's question, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.

"My mother said I should get married when I'm of age. I heard from people in the village that there are matchmakers in the city who can introduce people to potential partners, so I thought I'd come and see if I could find a good family to marry into..."

After saying this, Qin Huairu was so shy that she almost buried her head in her bowl. After all, at this time, marriages were still arranged by parents. If she hadn't wanted to marry into the city, she probably would have a child by now.

Upon hearing this, Xu Lin thought there was hope! He then casually asked, "Have you found a matchmaker yet? Have you met anyone you're satisfied with?"

Hearing this, Qin Huairu shook her head dejectedly.

"I took a bus to Beijing this morning, and by the time I arrived it was almost afternoon. Beijing is so big I didn't dare go too far, so I just wandered around the station area for a while. Then someone told me to go ask around the neighborhood, and I was just thinking of running into you, Brother Xu..."

Upon hearing this, Xu Lin exclaimed, "What a coincidence! The value of Huai Ru's services is undeniable. After all, to have raised Jia Dongxu's child and cared for his elderly mother to the extent described in the original story—the outcome alone is quite admirable!"

However, the mother's excessive pampering of her child and her blind filial piety, coupled with Jia Zhangshi's insatiable greed and laziness, resulted in Bang Geng never showing gratitude and only knowing how to take, like a vampire.

Although all her actions were for her family, what if her family members were insatiable ingrates and heartless bastards?

Even if your intentions are good, your actions will still be disliked and resented. After all, even verbally expressing sympathy online will get you a torrent of abuse, let alone actually acting like a sympathetic saint in the original story of Qin Huairu.

Thinking of this, Xu Lin felt a pang of pity for the person before him. If he hadn't met him, this person's life would have been over. However, Xu Lin couldn't possibly give up a garden for a single flower, so a plan formed in his mind.

"Silly girl, marriage isn't something you can just decide on a whim. If you don't get to know your partner well enough, what if he's just putting on an act before marriage and then turns on you afterward? Your life will be ruined!"

Qin Huairu found Xu Lin's words to be exactly what her mother had told her, but for some reason, she couldn't listen to her mother's advice and always went against it. However, Xu Lin's words seemed to make perfect sense to her.

"What should I do? I'm already 19, and all my peers have kids... I..."

Xu Lin felt the time was right, so he revealed his plan.

"Well then, we've met before, and we even happened to be born in the same year. I'll help you. There are quite a few young men in our neighborhood; you can go and meet them and see if there's anyone suitable."

It just so happens that a women's representative from our neighborhood lives in our backyard. She's raising her daughter alone, and I'm on good terms with her. I can arrange for you to stay with her for a few days. You can just help with some housework or something.

"This is perfect, it allows you to stay a few more days to observe, solves your accommodation problem, and also helps our women's representatives gain a good reputation. What do you think?"

Qin Huairu's eyes lit up when she heard this. "Really? Brother Xu, you're so kind! I don't know how to thank you enough! But will my going there be a bother for you?"

After hearing Qin Huairu's words, Xu Lin thought lewdly, "You'll know how to thank me, hehehe," but he still spoke in a high-sounding manner.

"Then it's settled. You don't have anything to thank me for, and I won't cause any trouble. It's just a small favor. Besides, workers and peasants are all one family. I'm sure you won't stand idly by if I need your help in the future."

After speaking, Xu Lin smiled and winked at Qin Huairu. Qin Huairu looked at Xu Lin's refined and handsome appearance, his nose was high and straight, his jawline was clear and neat, and when he pursed his lips, he exuded an indescribable heroic spirit, yet the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, hiding a touch of nonchalant gentleness.

Qin Huairu's heart inexplicably quickened, her fingers gripping the chopsticks tightened slightly, and then her face flushed crimson, the color spreading from her cheeks to her ears. She quickly lowered her head, unable to meet Xu Lin's gaze, and whispered...

"You've been so good to me, I'll definitely help you if you ever need my help in the future..."

But I didn't hear that sentence at all when I was slurping down the last bite of noodles; otherwise, I would have made her keep her word today.

After dinner, Qin Huairu followed Xu Lin back to the courtyard house. On the way, Xu Lin bought Qin Huairu a towel, a toothbrush, soap, and a new dress.

Xu Lin explained that she wore it on blind dates so that others wouldn't look down on her. She said that when you're out in the world, your status is something you earn, and your reputation is something you make... Anyway, she rambled on and on about a bunch of random things.

Although Qin Huairu initially strongly opposed it, she eventually realized that Xu Lin's words made a lot of sense, so she obediently accepted it, thinking that she must find an opportunity to repay Xu Lin in the future.

Because it was a bit far, by the time Xu Lin got home, all the residents in the courtyard had already gone home from get off work.

Today, Xu Lin didn't see Yan Bugui, who usually guarded the gate every day, trying to take advantage of the neighbors. He figured Yan Bugui was probably still swollen and didn't dare to show his face.

As soon as Xu Lin arrived home, he found that Mrs. Tan had already prepared a table full of dishes and was waiting for him.

"Xiaolin's back! I didn't get to welcome you back yesterday, so I'm making up for it today. Go wash your hands!"

Upon seeing Xu Lin return, Madam Tan immediately came to greet him. Only when she reached Xu Lin did she notice a little girl standing behind him, and she asked curiously...

"Hey, Xu Lin, who's this girl behind you?"

Xu Lin waved to Qin Huairu, then introduced her to Madam Tan, "This is Qin Huairu, whom I just met today. You can call her Huairu. Huairu, this is the women's representative from our institute that I told you about. You can call her Sister Tan."

Without waiting for them to greet him, Xu Lin continued his introduction:

"I almost hit her when I was riding my bike to Xiehe Hospital this afternoon. She came from the countryside to look for someone, but I couldn't contact her today and she has nowhere to stay. So, to express my apologies, I brought her here to ask for help from you, the women's representative. I was thinking that you have enough rooms, so I wondered if you could take her in for a few days and help her out."

Xu Lin didn't mention that Qin Huairu had come to the city to find a matchmaker for a blind date. It wasn't that he wanted to hide it from Tan Shi, but he couldn't just say it directly in front of the child; it would create an awkward atmosphere later. So he simply explained the whole story.

Qin Huairu was very grateful for Xu Lin's respect when she heard his words. She had initially been somewhat taken aback and embarrassed when she saw Tan Shi, thinking how awkward it was to discuss this matter in front of someone else's wife. However, after Xu Lin's explanation, she found it much easier to accept.

After listening, Madam Tan also welcomed Qin Huairu.

"Oh, I see. Then Xiao Lin, you should make it up to her. It would be a sin to hurt such a beautiful girl. Come in and sit down, Huai Ru. We can have dinner together."

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu also refused repeatedly.

"No need, Sister Tan. I had noodles this afternoon, it hasn't been long, I'm not hungry now. You guys eat, I'll just sit for a while."

"Oh, don't be shy. It's all home-cooked food, just have a few bites. This is Xiaolin's house, my house is in the backyard. After we finish eating, I'll take you there and arrange for you to stay." Without waiting for Qin Huairu's reply, Madam Tan pulled Qin Huairu to wash her hands and eat.

"Well... okay... I'm so sorry to have troubled you..." Qin Huairu agreed, seeing that it wouldn't be easy to refuse.

Xu Lin breathed a sigh of relief seeing how enthusiastic Tan was. He thought to himself, "My sister-in-law is the best; she's capable and sensible..."

At the dinner table, the three of them ate and chatted enthusiastically. The two young girls, Lou Xiao'e and He Yushui, finished their meal early and went back to Lou Xiao'e's room in the backyard to wash up and go to bed.

Qin Huairu then reiterated her purpose and reasons for coming to the city to Madam Tan. After hearing this, Madam Tan gave Xu Lin a meaningful look and secretly kicked him under the table.

Xu Lin continued eating without flinching, then secretly rubbed his foot against Tan's calf. When Tan kicked it away, Xu Lin shamelessly rubbed it again, and since he wasn't rejected, he assumed Tan had calmed down. He withdrew his foot and smiled at her.

What he didn't expect was that after Tan kicked him away, she pulled her leg back, and the second time he rubbed against Qin Huairu, whose cheeks were flushed...

Later, as the conversation became more animated, Madam Tan opened a jar of Shaoxing wine that Xu Lin had kept in his study, and the three of them enjoyed a few drinks.

After drinking, Qin Huairu cried in Tan's arms and poured out her grievances, saying that many people in the countryside still don't have enough to eat, and that today was the best and most filling meal she had had in years.

The reason she wanted to marry into the city was because someone from her village came to her door as a matchmaker, wanting her to marry a man in his thirties from the next village who had lost his wife, simply because he lived alone and had a cow, so he could have enough to eat...

Looking at Qin Huairu, who was crying her eyes out in her arms, Madam Tan felt sympathetic when she heard about her plight. She had married Lou Bancheng, who was over 30, at the age of 16 to be his concubine, just so that she could have enough to eat.

Thinking of this, Tan's gaze towards Xu Lin softened even more. This man had given her a new life, changed her destiny, and truly shown her what love was.

Xu Lin stared blankly at the two women hugging and wiping away tears in front of him.

No, we were just having a great time eating and drinking, how did it suddenly turn into this...?

Xu Lin decisively ended the dinner, telling Tan to take Qin Huairu home to rest, leaving the rest of the meal to him.

After the two left, Xu Lin scrambled to finish packing by himself. Just as he finished, he saw Madam Tan returning, so he went up to her, put his arm around her, and asked...

"Why are you back? Are you not used to sleeping alone...?"

"Get lost! I think you're the one who's not used to sleeping alone. I'm just coming over to bring in the clothes that are drying in the yard. Don't do anything rash."

"Many residents in the courtyard have their lights on right now. A lot of people saw me come in, so I can't stay too long..." Mrs. Tan poked Xu Lin's forehead playfully.

Xu Lin felt helpless; after all, if someone caught him having a messy private life, he could be paraded through the streets.

Tan found Xu Lin's disappointed expression amusing. She loved being with Xu Lin; when she was with him, he was like a child who had found a beloved toy, clinging to her endlessly.

"Come over sneaking over tonight, I'll leave the door open for you. Be careful not to get caught, I'm in the easternmost bedroom in the attic..."

Xu Lin's face immediately lit up with joy, and he hurriedly pushed Tan Shi to go back. Tan Shi was both angry and amused, rolled her eyes at Xu Lin, and then went back.

After Madam Tan left, Xu Lin began to pace around the perimeter of the courtyard. He had no intention of using the main gate. He still vividly remembered the "talk or not talk" exchanged between Yan Bugui, Liu Haizhong, and Yi Zhonghai last night, and he didn't believe that these three would let it go so easily...

As it turned out, Xu Lin's concerns were correct...